Former Leader of Parakar and Head of Mezdavan Detained: Details from the Investigative Committee

Within the framework of the criminal case investigated by the Main Investigation Department of the RA Investigative Committee concerning crimes against the state, constitutional order, and public safety, a number of circumstances have been revealed regarding the abuse of office by the former head of the Parakar community, the head of the Mezdavan settlement, and the leading specialist of the community's legal division.

According to factual data obtained during the investigation, the former official from the Parakar community, vested with leadership functions, aimed to alienate a 63.2 square meter economic building, a 70.2 square meter roof, and a 0.3027-hectare land plot designated for residential development, all belonging to the community, through an auction scheduled for December 9, 2022, to a preferred individual of the administrative head of that settlement.

To achieve this, they, as a group, used their official and service powers, as well as the influence stemming from those powers, to instruct the leading specialist responsible for accepting applications from individuals wishing to participate in the announced auction to leave the workplace until the completion of the application submission period, thus creating obstacles for citizens wishing to submit bids.

The leading specialist, in turn, with the intention of abusing official powers along with the other officials, did not fulfill their service duties and, carrying out the illegal order received, left the workplace on the last day of application submission. Additionally, at the instruction of the aforementioned officials, they provided information regarding the identity of those interested in participating in the auction to the administrative head of the settlement.

On December 6, 2022, with the knowledge and consent of the former official vested with leadership functions in the Parakar community, both personally and through others, the administrative head met with individuals connected to the residents wishing to participate in the auction, persuading them by various means to spread false information that the properties in question belonged to them from the outset, thus prohibiting them from submitting auction applications.

In the formal auction held on December 9, 2022, the preferred individual of the administrative head was declared the winner, after which, on December 12, 2022, a decision was made by the former official of the Parakar community to alienate the aforementioned properties to the auction winner, resulting in the conclusion of a real estate sale contract. Consequently, the aforementioned properties were illegally sold for 17,699,130 AMD.

As a result of the abuse of official powers by the three officials in preliminary agreement, significant damage was caused not only to the individuals wishing to participate in the auction but also to the legal interests of the Parakar community.

Based on sufficient evidence obtained, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against the three officials in accordance with point 4 of part 2 of Article 441 of the RA Criminal Code. These individuals have been arrested and charged. Motions have been submitted to the court regarding the application of detention as a measure of constraint for the former official vested with leadership functions in the Parakar community and the relevant administrative head of the community's respective settlement, which have been satisfied. A travel ban has been imposed as a measure of constraint on the leading specialist. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.